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So… Install Windows 7, hook up the Samsung ML-1210 printer, and…

…well not much happens. If you’ve gone to Samsung’s site, you may have found 2 possible files to download (technically more, but only 2 that have any hope of working), and you’ll find that neither seems to work well.

The Universal Print Driver will install, and you’ll probably get it to even find your ML-1210 eventually. If you get farther than that, congratulations! You’ll have gone farther than I was able to with that package.

The GDI driver on the other hand will refuse to install. Windows will pop up and ask if you want to try compatibility mode. Unfortunately, it’ll still refuse.

The solution?

No, it’s not a Lexmark E210 driver this time (I tried it… no such luck).

The solution is simple, but not elegant.

1) Download the GDI driver install package from Samsung’s site. If you’re lazy, I’ve uploaded it here:
20070128180408375_ML-1200_GDI_Vista.exe

Or zipped in case you have problems with the above (make sure you unzip before continuing):
20070128180408375_ML-1200_GDI_Vista.zip

2) Right-click on the file, choose Properties.

3) Run in Compatibility Mode for WINDOWS VISTA. Also check RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR. Click OK once you’ve selected those.

4) Run the program. It should install without warnings now (and let you print a test page).

One issue is that you’ll end up with 2 copies of the Printer in the “Devices and Printers” control panel. The first is the original non-working one, and the second is the new working one. It’s kinda ugly, making this an ugly solution for now, but it works.

At the very least you should have your ML-1210 up and running with Windows 7. Hopefully Samsung eventually spits out a proper Windows 7 driver package, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Note that this was done using the 64-bit version of Windows 7. I’d be surprised if the 32-bit version went any differently though, so instructions should be the same.